Optical element and projection image display apparatus

ABSTRACT

An optical element and a projection image display apparatus capable of obtaining excellent tolerance to light of high luminance and high output. The optical element includes a substrate transparent to light in a used wavelength band, and a birefringent layer including an obliquely deposited film containing hafnium oxide as a main component. The projection image display apparatus includes a liquid crystal display device having the optical element, a light source for emitting light, and a projection optical system for projecting modulated light, and the liquid crystal display device is disposed in an optical path between the light source and the projection optical system.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present technology relates to an optical element having an obliquelydeposited film and a projection image display apparatus. Thisapplication claims priority on the basis of Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. 2017-223769, filed on Nov. 21, 2017 in Japan, which is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, an optical element in which an obliquely deposited filmof a dielectric material is formed on a surface of a transparentsubstrate has been known. The oblique deposition is a method of forminga film by inclining the substrate surface with respect to the flyingdirection of the deposition material, and the structure of thedeposition film is observed as a columnar structure in which anaggregate of fine columns is inclined with respect to the substratesurface at a constant angle. The density of the column has an in-planeanisotropy and the refractive index has an in-plane anisotropy,resulting in a birefringence phenomenon in the obliquely deposited film.The obliquely deposited film is used for optical elements such as a ¼wavelength retardation plate and a ½ wavelength plate due to thebirefringence phenomenon. For example, PLT 1 discloses a retardationelement having an obliquely deposited film mainly composed of tantalumpentoxide (Ta₂O₅).

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

PLT 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2012-256024

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

In recent years, as a light source used in a projector, a laser lightsource capable of obtaining high luminance and high output has attractedattention. However, the obliquely deposited film containing tantalumpentoxide as a main component was sometimes damaged by light of highluminance and high output from a laser light source.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present technology toprovide an optical element and a projection image display apparatuscapable of obtaining excellent tolerance to high luminance and highoutput light.

Solution to Problem

To solve the problem described above, the optical element according tothe present technology is characterized by including a substrate that istransparent to light in a used wavelength band; and a birefringent layercomprising an obliquely deposited film containing hafnium oxide as amain component, wherein the birefringent layer is formed by alternatelyforming a first obliquely deposited film having a first inclineddirection and a second obliquely deposited film having a second inclineddirection with respect to the normal of the substrate.

In addition, the projection image display apparatus according to thepresent technology is characterized by including the optical elementdescribed above, the optical modulator, a light source for emittinglight, and a projection optical system for projecting a modulated light,in which the optical modulator and the optical element are disposed inan optical path between the light source and the projection opticalsystem.

Moreover, the method for manufacturing an optical element according tothe present technique is characterized by including forming abirefringent layer by repeating a step of depositing a depositionmaterial containing hafnium oxide as main component in a first directioninclined with respect to the normal of a deposition target surface toform a first obliquely deposited film, and a step of depositing adeposition material containing hafnium oxide as main component in asecond direction inclined with respect to the normal of the depositiontarget surface to form a second obliquely deposited film.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to this technology, since the obliquely deposited film isformed with hafnium oxide as a main component, excellent tolerance tolight of high luminance and high output can be achieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of aretardation element.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an obliquely deposited film.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an oblique deposition methodfor forming an obliquely deposited film.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing directions in which the depositiondirections from a deposition source are projected onto the depositiontarget surface.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an anti-reflection layer.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a method for manufacturing a retardationelement.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present technique will be described indetail in the following order with reference to the drawings.

1. Optical element2. Method for manufacturing optical element3. Projection image display apparatus

4. Example 1. Optical Element

The optical element according to the present embodiment includes asubstrate that is transparent to light in a used wavelength band, and abirefringent layer comprising an obliquely deposited film containinghafnium oxide as a main component. Thus, excellent tolerance to light ofhigh luminance and high output from a laser light source or the like canbe achieved. This is considered to be because hafnium oxide having ahigh melting point prevents thermal decay of the columnar structure ofthe obliquely deposited film.

The birefringent layer may be formed by alternately forming a firstobliquely deposited film having a first inclined direction and a secondobliquely deposited film having a second inclined direction with respectto the normal of the substrate. When the birefringent layer is a film inwhich the first obliquely deposited film and the second obliquelydeposited film are alternately formed, the effect of tolerance to highluminance and high output light is remarkable because the filling rateof the columnar structure is high.

The optical element preferably has at least one anti-reflection layerformed by laminating two or more kinds of dielectric films havingdifferent refractive indices. This can reduce reflection and increasetransmittance.

Examples of the optical element having such a configuration include aretardation element and a phase difference compensation polarizationelement that provide a phase difference to incident light. Hereinafter,a retardation element will be described as an example of an opticalelement.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of theretardation element. As shown in FIG. 1, a retardation element 10 isprovided with a transparent substrate 11, a matching layer 12 in whichhigh refractive index films and low refractive index films arealternately laminated on the transparent substrate 11 and the thicknessof each layer is equal to or less than the used wavelength, abirefringent layer 13 formed on the matching layer 12 and composed of anobliquely deposited film, and a protective layer 14 formed on thebirefringent layer 13 and composed of a dielectric film. In addition, afirst anti-reflection layer 15A is provided on the transparent substrate11 side and a second anti-reflection layer 15B is provided on theprotective layer 14 side.

The transparent substrate 11 is transparent to light in the usedwavelength band and has a high transmittance to light in the usedwavelength band. Examples of the material of the transparent substrate11 include glass, quartz, crystal, and sapphire, among others. The shapeof the transparent substrate 11 is generally rectangular, but any shapemay be appropriately selected according to the purpose. The thickness ofthe transparent substrate 11 is preferably, for example, 0.1 to 3.0 mm.

The matching layer 12 is a multilayer film in which a dielectric film islaminated, and is provided as necessary between the transparentsubstrate 11 and the birefringent layer 13. The matching layer 12 isdesigned to reverse and cancel the phases of the surface reflected lightand the interface reflected light, thereby preventing reflection at theinterface between the transparent substrate 11 and the birefringentlayer 13.

The matching layer 12 can be composed of two or more kinds of dielectricfilms selected from TiO₂, SiO₂, Ta₂O₅, Al₂O₃, CeO₂, ZrO₂, ZrO, Nb₂O₅,and HfO₂. The dielectric film in contact with the birefringent layer 13of the matching layer 12 is preferably SiO₂ having excellent adhesion tohafnium oxide. This further improves light tolerance to a laser lightsource and the like.

The birefringent layer 13 is formed of an obliquely deposited filmcontaining hafnium oxide (HfO₂) as a main component. Here, the maincomponent means a component having the largest ratio in the columnarstructure of the obliquely deposited film. The birefringent layer 13 maybe a single layer film of an obliquely deposited film or a film in whichan obliquely deposited film is alternately formed. The thickness of eachof the obliquely deposited films is preferably equal to or less than theused wavelength.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an obliquely deposited film.As shown in FIG. 2, the obliquely deposited film is formed by depositinga deposition material in a direction inclined with respect to the normalS of the deposition target surface 21. The inclination angle of thedeposition target surface 21 with respect to the normal S is preferably60° or more and 80° or less.

The obliquely deposited film is formed of an oblique columnar structurein which a columnar bundle containing hafnium oxide as a main componentis constituted obliquely with respect to the normal of the depositiontarget surface. The oblique columnar structure has columnar portions inwhich fine particles containing hafnium oxide as a main component aredeposited, and void portions which are air layers between the columnarportions.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view for explaining an oblique deposition methodfor forming an obliquely deposited film, and FIG. 4 is a schematic viewshowing directions in which the flying directions of the depositionmaterial from a deposition source are projected onto a deposition targetsurface (deposition directions). As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a film inwhich the obliquely deposited films are alternately formed is formed byalternately repeating the deposition from a first deposition direction31 and the deposition from a second deposition direction 32.Specifically, after the film is formed by deposition from the firstdeposition direction 31, the deposition target surface is rotated by180° around the center of the deposition target surface through whichthe center line perpendicular to the deposition target surface passes,thereby performing deposition from the second deposition direction 32.By repeating this process, a layer is obtained in which the firstobliquely deposited film having the first inclined direction and thesecond obliquely deposited film having the second inclined directionwith respect to the normal of the deposition target surface arealternately formed.

The protective layer 14 is made of a dielectric film and is arranged incontact with the obliquely deposited film of the birefringent layer 13.This prevents warp of the retardation element 10 and improves moisturetolerance of the obliquely deposited film.

The dielectric material of the protective layer 14 is not particularlylimited as long as it can adjust the stress applied to the retardationelement 10 and is effective in improving the moisture tolerance, and canbe appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples of such adielectric material include SiO₂, Ta₂O₅, TiO₂, Al₂O₃, Nb₂O₅, LaO, andMgF₂, among others, and SiO₂ having excellent adhesion to hafnium oxideis particularly preferable. This can further improve moisture tolerance.

The first anti-reflection layer 15A is provided in contact with thesurface of the transparent substrate 11 opposite from the birefringentlayer 13, and the second anti-reflection layer 15B is provided incontact with the surface of the protective layer 14 opposite from thebirefringent layer 13 as required. The first anti-reflection layer 15Aand the second anti-reflection layer 15B have an anti-reflectionfunction in a desired wavelength band to be used.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the first anti-reflectionlayer. As shown in FIG. 5, the first anti-reflection layer 15A is anoptical multilayer film in which two or more kinds of dielectric filmshaving different refractive indices are laminated, and is formed of, forexample, a multilayer film in which a first dielectric film 151 and asecond dielectric film 152 having different refractive indices arealternately laminated.

Although the number of anti-reflection layers can be appropriatelydetermined as necessary, about 5 to 40 layers are preferable from theviewpoint of productivity. It should be noted that the secondanti-reflection layer 15B is formed in the same manner as the firstanti-reflection layer 15A.

The first anti-reflection layer 15A and the second anti-reflection layer15B are composed of two or more kinds of dielectric films selected fromTiO₂, SiO₂, Ta₂O₅, Al₂O₃, CeO₂, ZrO₂, ZrO, Nb₂O₅, and HfO₂,respectively. For example, the anti-reflection layer may be a multilayerfilm in which a first dielectric film 151 made of Nb₂O₅ having arelatively high refractive index and a second dielectric film 152 madeof SiO₂ having a relatively low refractive index are alternatelylaminated.

According to the retardation element having such a configuration,excellent tolerance to light of high luminance and high output from alaser light source or the like can be achieved.

2. Method for Manufacturing Optical Element

Next, a method for manufacturing an optical element according to thepresent embodiment will be described. A method for manufacturing anoptical element according to the present embodiment includes depositinga deposition material containing hafnium oxide as a main component in adirection inclined with respect to the normal of a deposition targetsurface to form a birefringent layer consisting of an obliquelydeposited film containing hafnium oxide as a main component. Moreover,the method for manufacturing an optical element according to the presentembodiment includes repeating a step of depositing a deposition materialcontaining hafnium oxide as a main component in a first directioninclined with respect to the normal of a deposition target surface toform a first obliquely deposited film, and a step of depositing adeposition material containing hafnium oxide as a main component in asecond direction inclined with respect to the normal of the depositiontarget surface to form a second obliquely deposited film, therebyforming a birefringent layer in which obliquely deposited films arealternately formed. Thus, an optical element having excellent toleranceto light of high luminance and high output from a laser light source orthe like can be achieved.

Hereinafter, a method for manufacturing the retardation element of theconfiguration example shown in FIG. 1 will be described as a specificexample of the method for manufacturing the optical element. FIG. 6 is aflowchart showing a method for manufacturing the retardation element.

First, in step S1, a transparent substrate 11 is prepared. Next, in stepS2, in order to prevent reflection at the interface between thebirefringent layer 13 and the transparent substrate 11, a matching layer12 is formed by laminating a dielectric film on the transparentsubstrate 11. Next, in step S3, a first anti-reflection layer 15A (backAR layer) is formed on the opposite surface of the substrate 21 wherethe matching layer 12 is not formed.

Next, in step S4, the birefringent layer 13 is formed on the matchinglayer 12 by an oblique deposition method. For example, as shown in FIGS.3 and 4, after the film is formed by deposition from the firstdeposition direction 31, the deposition target surface is rotated by180° around the center of the deposition target surface through whichthe center line perpendicular to the deposition target surface passes,thereby performing deposition from the second deposition direction 32.By repeating this process, a film is obtained in which the firstobliquely deposited film having the first inclined direction and thesecond obliquely deposited film having the second inclined directionwith respect to the normal of the deposition target surface arealternately formed.

Next, in step S5, the birefringent layer 13 is annealed at a temperatureof 200° C. or more and 600° C. or less. More preferably, thebirefringent layer 13 is annealed at a temperature of 300° C. or moreand 500° C. or less, still more preferably at a temperature of 400° C.or more and 500° C. or less. Thus, the characteristics of thebirefringent layer 13 can be stabilized.

Next, in step S6, a protective layer 14 is formed on the birefringentlayer 13. For example, when SiO₂ is formed as the protective layer 14,TEOS (tetraethoxysilane) gas and O₂ are preferably used as the materialsof SiO₂, and a plasma CVD apparatus is preferably used.

Since the SiO₂ CVD film forming in the plasma CVD apparatus ischaracterized by using a vaporized material gas, unlike physical vapordeposition represented by sputtering, TEOS gas can be relatively easilypenetrated into the voids between the columnar structures, and adhesionto the birefringent layer 13 can be further improved.

Next, in step S7, a second anti-reflection layer 15B (front AR layer) isformed on the protective layer 14. Finally, in step S8, scribe cuttingis performed to a size matching the specifications.

By the above-described manufacturing method, it is possible to obtain aretardation element having excellent tolerance to light of highluminance and high output from a laser light source or the like.

3. Projection Image Display Apparatus

Since the optical element described above has excellent tolerance tohigh luminance and high output light, it is suitably used for projectorapplications such as a liquid crystal projector, a DLP (Digital LightProcessing: registered trademark) projector, an LCOS (Liquid Crystal OnSilicon) projector, and a GLV (Grating Light Valve: registeredtrademark) projector. That is, the projection image display apparatusaccording to the present embodiment includes the above-described opticalelement, an optical modulator, a light source for emitting light, and aprojection optical system for projecting modulated light, and theoptical modulator and the optical element are disposed in an opticalpath between the light source and the projection optical system.Examples of the optical modulator include a liquid crystal displaydevice having a transmissive liquid crystal panel, a micromirror displaydevice having a DMD (Digital Micro-mirror Device), a reflective liquidcrystal display device having a reflective liquid crystal panel, and a1-dimensional diffraction type display device having a 1-dimensionaldiffraction type light modulation element (GLV), among other devices.

In a projection image display apparatus using, for example, a liquidcrystal display device, the liquid crystal display device includes atleast a liquid crystal panel, a first polarizing plate, and a secondpolarizing plate, and further includes other members as necessary.

The liquid crystal panel is not particularly limited, and includes, forexample, a substrate and a VA mode liquid crystal layer containingliquid crystal molecules having a pretilt with respect to the orthogonaldirection of the main surface of the substrate, and modulates anincident light flux. The VA mode (vertical alignment mode) refers to ascheme of moving liquid crystal molecules arranged perpendicular to asubstrate (or with a pretilt) by using a vertical electric field.

The first polarizing plate is arranged on the incident side of theliquid crystal panel, and the second polarizing plate is arranged on theoutgoing side of the liquid crystal panel. The first polarizing plateand the second polarizing plate are preferably inorganic polarizingplates from the viewpoint of durability.

The retardation element is provided with, for example, an obliquelydeposited film containing hafnium oxide as a main component of theconfiguration example shown in FIG. 1, and is arranged at a requiredposition in an optical path constituting the projection image displayapparatus.

In the projection image display apparatus using the micromirror displaydevice, the retardation element is also provided in the same opticalpath in combination with a diffusion plate and a polarization beamsplitter, among others.

The light source is not particularly limited as long as it is a lightemitting member, and can be appropriately selected according to thepurpose. In the present embodiment, since the liquid crystal displaydevice is provided with an optical element having an obliquely depositedfilm containing hafnium oxide as a main component, a laser light sourcethat emits light of high luminance and high output can be used.

The projection optical system is not particularly limited as long as itis a member for projecting the modulated light, and can be appropriatelyselected according to the purpose, and for example, a projection lensfor projecting the modulated light onto a screen can be used.

According to the projection image display apparatus having such aconfiguration, it is possible to display an image of high luminance andhigh output by using light of high luminance and high output from alaser light source or the like.

EXAMPLE 4. Example

Example of the present technique will be described below. Here, aretardation element having an obliquely deposited film was fabricated,and a laser irradiation test was performed. It should be noted that thepresent technique is not limited to this example.

Example 1

First, a matching layer was formed by depositing three layers ofSiO₂/Nb₂O₅/SiO₂ on one surface of a glass substrate (average thickness0.7 mm) by sputtering.

Next, an anti-reflection layer was formed on the other surface of theglass substrate by alternately laminating eleven layers by sputteringusing Nb₂O₅ and SiO₂.

Subsequently, a deposition source was arranged on the matching layerwith HfO₂ as a deposition material at a position inclined by 70 degreeswith respect to the substrate normal direction, the first depositiondirection was set to 0 degrees and the second deposition direction wasset to 180 degrees, and oblique deposition was alternately performed.After the deposition, annealing was performed at 450° C. in order tostabilize the characteristics. After annealing, an SiO₂ film was formedby plasma CVD using TEOS (tetraethoxysilane) gas and O₂ to form aprotective layer.

Next, an anti-reflection layer was formed by alternately laminatingseven layers by sputtering using Nb₂O₅ and SiO₂. Scribe cutting wasperformed to a size matching the specifications, thereby fabricating aretardation element.

Comparative Example 1

A retardation element was fabricated in the same process as in Example 1except that Ta₂O₅ was used as the deposition material.

Laser Irradiation Test

Each of the 30 retardation elements prepared by the method of theExample and Comparative Example was irradiated with laser beams underthe following conditions, and the number of damages was counted. As thecriteria for damage, cloudiness of the laser-irradiated part of thetransparent retardation element was used and this was confirmedvisually. Table 1 shows the result of the damage number of theretardation element caused by laser irradiation.

wavelength: 455 nm CW (continuous wave) semiconductor laser.

laser output: 61 W

power density: 10.2 W/mm2

irradiation time: 3 minutes

TABLE 1 Comparative Example Example number of damages/ 0/30 24/30 numberof fabrications

As shown in Table 1, in the comparative example in which the obliquelydeposited film was Ta₂O₅, more than half of the damages were caused bylaser irradiation. On the contrary, in the example in which theobliquely deposited film was HfO₂, no damage was caused, and it wasfound that excellent tolerance was exhibited against high luminance andhigh output light.

As described above, the following techniques are described in thisspecification.

[1] An optical element comprising:

a substrate transparent to light in a used wavelength band; and

a birefringent layer comprising an obliquely deposited film containinghafnium oxide as a main component.

[2] The optical element according to [1], wherein the birefringent layeris formed by alternately forming a first obliquely deposited film havinga first inclined direction and a second obliquely deposited film havinga second inclined direction with respect to the normal of the substrate.[3] The optical element according to [1] or [2], comprising at least oneanti-reflection layer formed by laminating two or more kinds ofdielectric films having different refractive indices.[4] The optical element according to one of [1] to [3], furthercomprising a protective layer formed of a dielectric film on thebirefringent layer.[5] The optical element according to one of [1] to [3],

further comprising a matching layer formed by laminating two or morekinds of dielectric films having different refractive indices,

wherein the substrate, the matching layer, and the birefringent layerare laminated in this order.

[6] The optical element according to [4],

wherein the dielectric film of the protective layer is SiO₂.

[7] The optical element according to [5],

wherein the dielectric film in contact with the birefringent layer ofthe matching layer is SiO₂.

[8] The optical element according to [3],

wherein the anti-reflection layer is formed by laminating two or morekinds of dielectric films selected from TiO₂, SiO₂, Ta₂O₅, Al₂O₃, CeO₂,ZrO₂, ZrO, Nb₂O₅, and HfO₂.

[9] The optical element according to any one of [1] to [8], wherein thesubstrate is one selected from glass, quartz, crystal, and sapphire.[10] A projection image display apparatus comprising:

an optical element according to one of [1] to [9], an optical modulator,a light source for emitting light, and a projection optical system forprojecting a modulated light,

wherein the optical modulator and the optical element are disposed in anoptical path between the light source and the projection optical system.

[11] A method for manufacturing the optical element including depositinga deposition material containing hafnium oxide as a main component in adirection inclined with respect to the normal of a deposition targetsurface to form a birefringent layer comprising an obliquely depositedfilm.[12] A method for manufacturing an optical element comprising forming abirefringent layer by repeating a step of depositing a depositionmaterial containing hafnium oxide as a main component in a firstdirection inclined with respect to the normal of a deposition targetsurface to form a first obliquely deposited film, and a step ofdepositing a deposition material containing hafnium oxide as a maincomponent in a second direction inclined with respect to the normal ofthe deposition target surface to form a second obliquely deposited film.[13] The method for manufacturing an optical element according to [11]or [12], comprising conducting annealing at a temperature of 200° C. ormore and 600° C. or less after forming the birefringent layer.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

10 retardation element, 11 transparent substrate, 12 matching layer, 13birefringent layer, 14 protective layer, 15A, 15B anti-reflection layer,21 deposition target surface, 31 first deposition direction, 32 seconddeposition direction, 151 first dielectric film, 152 second dielectricfilm

1. An optical element comprising; a substrate that is transparent tolight in a used wavelength band; and a birefringent layer comprising anobliquely deposited film containing hafnium oxide as a main component,wherein the birefringent layer is formed by alternately forming a firstobliquely deposited film having a first inclined direction and a secondobliquely deposited film having a second inclined direction with respectto the normal of the substrate.
 2. The optical element according toclaim 1, wherein the thicknesses of the first obliquely deposited filmand the second obliquely deposited film are equal to or less than theused wavelength.
 3. The optical element according to claim 1, furthercomprising at least one anti-reflection layer formed by laminating twoor more kinds of dielectric films having different refractive indices.4. The optical element according to claim 1, further comprising aprotective layer formed of a dielectric film on the birefringent layer.5. The optical element according to claim 1, further comprising amatching layer formed by laminating two or more kinds of dielectricfilms having different refractive indices, wherein the substrate, thematching layer, and the birefringent layer are laminated in this order.6. The optical element according to claim 4, wherein the dielectric filmof the protective layer is SiO₂.
 7. The optical element according toclaim 5, wherein the dielectric film in contact with the birefringentlayer of the matching layer is SiO₂.
 8. The optical element according toclaim 3, wherein the anti-reflection layer is formed by laminating twoor more kinds of dielectric films selected from TiO₂, SiO₂, Ta₂O₅,Al₂O₃, CeO₂, ZrO₂, ZrO, Nb₂O₅, and HfO₂.
 9. The optical elementaccording to claim 1, wherein the substrate is selected from glass,quartz, crystal, and sapphire.
 10. A projection image display apparatuscomprising: an optical element according to claim 1, an opticalmodulator, a light source for emitting light, and a projection opticalsystem for projecting a modulated light, wherein the optical modulatorand the optical element are disposed in an optical path between thelight source and the projection optical system.
 11. A method formanufacturing an optical element comprising forming a birefringent layerby repeating a step of depositing a deposition material containinghafnium oxide as a main component in a first direction inclined withrespect to the normal of a deposition target surface to form a firstobliquely deposited film, and a step of depositing a deposition materialcontaining hafnium oxide as a main component in a second directioninclined with respect to the normal of the deposition target surface toform a second obliquely deposited film.
 12. The method for manufacturingan optical element according to claim 11, wherein the thicknesses of thefirst obliquely deposited film and the second obliquely deposited filmare equal to or less than the used wavelength.
 13. The method formanufacturing an optical element according to claim 11, furthercomprising conducting annealing at a temperature of 200° C. or more and600° C. or less after forming the birefringent layer.
 14. The opticalelement according to claim 2, further comprising at least oneanti-reflection layer formed by laminating two or more kinds ofdielectric films having different refractive indices.
 15. The opticalelement according to claim 2, further comprising a protective layerformed of a dielectric film on the birefringent layer.
 16. The opticalelement according to claim 3, further comprising a protective layerformed of a dielectric film on the birefringent layer.
 17. The opticalelement according to claim 2, further comprising a matching layer formedby laminating two or more kinds of dielectric films having differentrefractive indices, wherein the substrate, the matching layer, and thebirefringent layer are laminated in this order.
 18. The optical elementaccording to claim 3, further comprising a matching layer formed bylaminating two or more kinds of dielectric films having differentrefractive indices, wherein the substrate, the matching layer, and thebirefringent layer are laminated in this order.
 19. The method formanufacturing an optical element according to claim 12, furthercomprising conducting annealing at a temperature of 200° C. or more and600° C. or less after forming the birefringent layer.